Video
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.42:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Audio
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1... (more)
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 English: Dolby Digital 5.1 French: Dolby Digital 5.1 Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 German: Dolby Digital 5.1 Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1 Japanese: Dolby Digital 5.1 (less)
Subtitles
English SDH, French, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German SDH, Italian SDH... (more)
English SDH, French, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German SDH, Italian SDH, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Swedish (less)
Discs
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy (on disc)
Constantine Blu-ray delivers great video and superb audio in this fan-pleasing Blu-ray release
John Constantine has literally been to hell and back. When he teams up with skeptical
policewoman Angela Dodson to solve the mysterious suicide of her twin sister, their
investigation takes them through the world of demons and angels that exists just beneath the
landscape of contemporary Los Angeles. Caught in a catastrophic series of otherworldy events,
the two become inextricably involved and seek to find their own peace at whatever cost. Based
on the DC Comics/Vertigo Hellblazer graphic novels.
What if Heaven and Hell thought little more of human souls than as a tally, points earned in a
game of life, the outcome if which will decide the fate of the planet? That is the question raised
in Constantine, a quasi-interesting 2005 film that puts its own spin on religion and
action but
fails to endear itself in either regard, coming off as a straightforward, unmemorable picture that,
despite a few original elements and ideas, falls flat in most every regard. Another in an
ever-growing list of dark, spiritually-themed films, Constantine takes audiences along for
a ride
replete with some nifty action, good special effects, and a boisterous sound design, but also offers
mostly forgettable characters and a plot that fails to hold one's attention throughout. It's
another film that banks on style,
a "coolness" factor, to win over audiences, but at the end of the film, audiences may find
themselves asking one another, "who cares?" Constantine is one of
those movies that will enjoy a long shelf life playing several times per month in an
edited-for-content-and-length version on cable television. Because of its star power, heavy
marketing, several moderately high-profile
home video releases, and airplay on television, it is a known commodity, a film that settles into a
comfort zone where it is neither lambasted nor lauded, simply existing and entertaining viewers
when there is nothing better to watch.
No, sorry, Cabela's doesn't carry this model.
John Constantine (Keanu Reeves, The Matrix) is a
demon hunter with the unique ability to see both demons and angels, beings from above and
below that are embroiled in a struggle for the soul of humanity. On Earth, "half breeds," those
with angelic or demonic blood or ancestry, passively influence souls to either work for good, or
succumb to temptation and sin, providing to Lucifer another soul in his "contest" with God.
When the twin sister of detective Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz, The Mummy)
commits suicide, she is denied a Catholic service and Angela seeks the help of Constantine to
determine what external forces may have played a role in her death. Constantine deals with his
own problems, both a fatal physical ailment and his failure to placate God and earn a place in
Heaven. As the story unfolds, it is discovered that Angela's fate has been set, and a series of
events leads to her direct involvement in what may spell the beginning of the end of mankind.
Though it may be thin on substance, Constantine impresses through its fine special
effects.
The film features some unique creature design, not to mention a chilling version of "Hell" that is
reminiscent, in part, of something straight out of a nuclear fire as seen in Terminator 2. Here,
"Hell" is depicted as the world as we know it, but ravaged by fire, populated by demons in varying
stages of decay or dismemberment, a world of unspeakable horrors and ghastly imagery, a world
where, as it is once described in a the film, two minutes plays out as if they were an eternity. A
brisk wind blows around, in some ways allowing the effects to blend in and mask a few
shortcomings, but it also serves a thematic purpose, increasing the tension but also adding
another layer to the surreal atmosphere. Likewise, various "half breeds" seen throughout the
movie, sometimes in partial to full states of demonic appearance, are spectacular. One gory
scene features a splattered head, with green rather than red innards strewn out across the floor,
the head's eyes still moving and the mouth still speaking. It's disgusting, chilling, and impressive
all at once, as are several other scenes throughout.
Keanu Reeves plays his character, John Constantine, with minimal heart or spunk. The character
is dull, though, and deliberately so. Constantine is a man unique in the world, seeing not only
demons and angels, but fighting them alongside his personal demons. He is a man with a
troubled past, an agonizing, cancer-ridden present, and no future, at least not the future he
envisions. Constantine does the Lord's work, but for selfish reasons, hoping to gain favor with
Him to save his own soul, not because he necessarily believes in a higher purpose or cause. The
character is well-drawn and intriguing, and Reeves' performance, while not electrifying, seems to
capture the downtrodden, depressed, demoralized character well. He seems, in certain ways,
reminiscent of Arnold Schwarzenegger's character in End of Days. Both
fight the supernatural, unwittingly, in an attempt to save humanity from the emergence of
Satan, and in the process come to know the true meaning of faith and the importance of
self-sacrifice in the name of righteousness.
Presented in 1080p high definition and framed at 2.35:1, Constantine never stands out
as
a top-flight high definition reference-grade disc, but it never completely disappoints, either. The
transfer is a somewhat dull and soft one. Early scenes are heavy on diluted colors with a strong
golden
or yellow tone. While the tone shifts throughout, the soft, the slightly undefined imagery
remains consistent.
Bight colors and strong primaries are not frequently found in the movie, and the transfer handles
the
somber tone of the film well. Facial detail is rather flat and minimal. Some background details
are
nicely rendered, however, an example being a scene in chapter six that takes place in a moldy,
dirty, run-down apartment. The grime on the walls, electrical sockets, and cabinets all show up
rather well. Likewise, the special effects stand out; various grisly scenes never falter in
showcasing
the painstaking graphic nature of the imagery, and the film's numerous creature or demon
effects look sharp and detailed. Flesh tones are pasty throughout, some
slightly rosier than others, but most are sometimes ghastly in appearance. Black levels are fairly
strong.
Constantine doesn't make for startling high definition imagery, but the transfer is
acceptable and never insults the visual senses, either. Fans should be pleased with the results.
Constantine's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack is devilishly good. This soundtrack
features hard-hitting effects, the first coming only moments into the film as a man is smashed by
a speeding car. Minor effects, like the ambience of the arid Mexican desert, sound realistic with a
nice spread of sound around the soundstage. Effects during the exorcism to open the film are
loud and immersive, the shattering glass and excitement of the scene heightened by a solid
sound design that translates well to the TrueHD experience. Discrete effects are fluid and
immersive, covering the soundstage at every degree mark. From a series of ringing telephones
heard distinctly in several speakers in chapter eight to various rainstorms heard during the
movie, the soundtrack always offers something to please listeners, and the surround speakers
rarely earn a minute off. It is the action sequences that shine in Constantine. Take a
scene in chapter nine as Constantine fights a creature comprised of thousands of insects. Every
speaker instantly comes alive and jumps at the opportunity to relish in the action, the result an
immersive experience that places audience not just in the front row, but practically in the middle
of the action itself. Bass is heartily employed by the film, particularly during the film's sequences
taking place in "Hell." There are never any dialogue reproduction problems of note.
Constantine's soundtrack isn't divine, but it ascends to the upper tiers of Blu-ray
soundtracks nevertheless.
Constantine arrives on Blu-ray as a feature-packed special edition. First is an
In-Movie
Experience, a picture-in-picture track that is a "one-stop shop" for movie fans who don't
have
the time to sort through the remainder of the bonus materials. Some information here carries
over
from the other supplements and it provides a solid overview without delving into very
nook and cranny of the film. The pop-up window comes and goes, sometimes remaining off for
several moments. The film's two commentary tracks feature director Francis Lawrence and
producer
Akiva Goldsman on the first while writers Kevin Brodbin and Frank A. Cappello man the second.
Lawrence
and Goldsman, and Goldsman in particular, are highly entertaining. The piece comes off almost
like
a duo hosting a morning radio program; it is light and lively but at the same time substantive and
worth the listen. The second track isn't as much fun, but it's still a cut-above the average
commentary track. They discuss the deeper character traits and motivations of the characters,
changes to the script, the special effects, and more. They enjoy watching the film, react to some
of the more spectacular sequences as if they had never seen the film before, and delight in
sharing
their thoughts on the film they've written.
Behind the Story is a series of 14 featurettes, presented in 480p standard definition, that
look at nearly the entire
filmmaking process. Channeling Constantine (8:00) examines the uniqueness of the
John Constantine character and the casting of several other roles in the film. Conjuring
Constantine (15:43) focuses on the adaptation from the graphic novels on which the film is
based. Director's Confessional (5:35) features Francis Lawrence discussing the
expectations and pressures of directing a major studio film. Collision With Evil (4:39)
looks at Constantine's original opening sequence that was never filmed and the creation
of the impressive effect that now opens the film. Holy Relics (8:22) is an examination of
the film's props and the deliberately old, worn look given to many of them, and offering a brief
history on the ones that receive the most attention in the film. Shotgun Shootout
(2:03) looks at the making of one of the film's primary action sequences. Hellscape
(11:59) focuses on the special effects and the creation of the visuals for the film's Hell-centric
sequences.
Visualizing Vermin (9:36) focuses on the evolution of a demon made of various insects
and small creatures. Warrior Wings (3:18) is a glimpse at the creation of the angel
wings seen in the film. Unholy Abduction (5:47) is another behind-the-scenes look
at the making of yet another of the film's major effects sequences. Demon Face (2:01)
features the process of applying the demon make-up to the Balthazar character, and the piece
also features an interview with actor Gavin Rossdale. Constantine's Cosmology (5:21)
looks at how Constantine fits into the mythos of hero tales. Foresight: The Power of
Pre-Visualization (13:56) takes an in-depth look at these animated storyboards that help the
filmmakers more easily create the look they desire. Lastly, A Writer's Vision (1:18) is a
series of pre-visualization images, created by Frank Cappello, to help him better get a feel for the
story.
Thirteen deleted scenes and an alternate ending (480p, 17:42), with optional commentary from
director Francis Lawrence, are next. Concluding the supplements on disc one is a music video
(480p, 4:16) entitled Passive by Perfect Circle and the film's teaser (480p, 0:55) and
theatrical (480p, 2:22) trailers. Disc two of this set contains a digital copy of the film. This digital
copy, played back on a second generation iPod touch and the included Apple headphones, offers
surprisingly robust sound, decent right to left and left to right directionality, adequate dialogue
reproduction, and
strong effects. The picture, too, is well above average with blacks that don't block up as much as,
is the case with other digital copies. It also features solid color reproduction and a decent
amount of fine detail. Banding can be seen in several places. Not that anyone is looking for high
quality in digital copies, but this one is excellent compared to the others out there.
Constantine is just another in a long line of films that are worth watching but won't leave a
lasting impression, engender any sort of desire to see it multiple times, or speak to viewers on any
level. It offers eye candy in the form of neat special effects, decent action, and a fairly well-written
lead character, but the film never gels, and the result is a throwaway movie that is well-suited to
late night and weekend marathons on cable superstations. Warner Brothers' Blu-ray release of
Constantine features an adequate video transfer, a rip-roaring soundtrack, and plenty of
bonus materials. Overall, this is a solid package for a mediocre movie and is worth a rental for most
viewers, but ardent fans of the film should not hesitate to add Constantine to their
Blu-ray collections.
Warner Home Video has announced that they will bring the Keanu Reeves film 'Constantine' to Blu-ray on October 14th. This film represents another Warner Blu-ray "make-up" title, as it was originally released in high definition on the now defunct HD DVD format in ...
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